03x23 - The Woman

[bunniefuu]

(john-boy) it was hard to think of
my mother and father's marriage

in terms of years.

as far as we children were
concerned, they'd always been married.

but of course, there had
been a beginning to their union.

and when their th
anniversary was approaching,

we decided to help them
celebrate it in a very special way.

I don't think we should get
them store-bought things.

I think we oughta make
gifts for 'em, you know?

Well, think of something
we can all make together.

Why does it have
to be all together?

Well, I guess it's because mom
and daddy are celebrating the fact

That they're still together.

I'm sure we can
think of something.

Why don't we paint a picture of the
house with everyone standing outside?

Now that'd be different.

We can do that with a camera.

Can we do the
inside with a camera?

Now, wait a minute. Why don't
we paint the inside of the house?

What color?

No, I mean like a painting.

Make it look like we're standing
out front with the walls off.

(Elizabeth) like a
dollhouse. That's right.

(Jim-bob) that's dumb.

That isn't dumb,
that's a good idea.

We could paint all the
different rooms inside the house.

Yeah, trouble is, you can't see
all the rooms from the front.

Well, jason, we can paint
it any way we want to.

Well, sure, we can take a
little artistic license with it.

Can we all paint part of
it? (Ben) that's the whole idea.

Yeah, and then we can all paint
ourselves in wherever we wanna be.

That'd put jim-bob
in the icebox.

And you in the plumbing.

Me in the plumbing, huh? Yeah.

That means 'cause you eat so
much, so you'll go in the icebox.

I don't want it to be
just an ordinary day.

Our th anniversary ought
to be something special.

[Crickets chirping]

Well, we could have a
special turkey for dinner.

I had somethin'
different in mind.

I'd like us to say
our vows over again.

You mean get married again?

Yeah.

In church?

It doesn't have
to be in a church.

It could be just a
family celebration.

Maybe you could bring
home a wild turkey,

And... And I'll bake
a special cake

And everything
will be just the same

Except we'd have reverend
fordwick say our vows for us.

Why would you wanna
do somethin' like that?

We never really
had a proper weddin'.

Sure we did. It was all legal.

I know that.

But elopin' and worryin' every minute
if our folks would catch up with us,

I was nervous through
the whole ceremony.

This time I'd like to make an
event of it, for my own memory.

Do we have to have
all kinds of folks?

No.

We don't need anybody
else. Just family.

Please?

Come on.

John? Hmm.

"Mr. John walton."

Hmm.

"The door is open. I was called to
an emergency department meeting.

Please wait if you
can. Professor parks."

I can wait. Can you wait? Mmm.

Look, uh, are you
in a rush? Because...

Oh, no. It's just, I do have
to get some work done

At the library today, and...

Uh, well, I've got all the agenda
and the stuff in my bag here,

And if you'd like, I'll just give it to
professor parks when he comes in, if you...

Oh, ok. Uh...

Hey, you know
what I found? What?

I found a picture of her.

Oh, she is a remarkable-looking
woman, isn't she?

(Gloria) well, when I first
started reading her poetry,

I just knew she'd
look like that.

The idea of her reading anything
that I've written scares me to death.

Me, too.

[Chuckling]

Oh, I'm glad you found the note.

Sorry, but it was an
emergency. Here you are.

Uh, I have to go,
professor parks,

But john has all the information
about miss bennett's visit.

He can go over it with you.

Well, I'm afraid
miss bennett's visit

Is gonna present us
with a bit of a problem.

She's not gonna cancel, is she?

It's worse than
that, I'm afraid.

I think we'll have to
postpone her visit.

Oh, no.

Well, the problem is the university
president has handed me a new project.

He thinks it's time that boatwright started
publishing its own literary magazine

And he wants the first issue
ready for the printer in a month.

A magazine's not a bad idea,

But... But what does that have to do with
miss bennett's visit? I don't understand.

Well, who's gonna look
after her while she's here?

I mean, she has a lot of free
time between lectures and teas.

She can't just sit in her hotel
room staring out the window.

I had planned a tour
of the area for her,

Including some of the
historic homes and landmarks.

Well, uh, one of us could do it.

Oh, sure. Um, what... What...
What would we have to do?

Well, first she'd have to be met at
the station and taken to her hotel

And then escorted to
the lectures and the teas.

And unless you'd like to
see my marriage fall apart,

Escorted to my home
for dinner on friday night.

Well, someone with
a car has to do it.

Oh, sure. Well, I have
a car, so I could do it.

(Parks) well, what
about your classes?

Classes? Um...

Oh, i... I only have only one class
on thursday. It's a chemistry class.

And friday I'm free,
so I could do it, see?

(Parks) well, I could
get you out of your lab.

But, johnny, are you
sure you wanna do this?

Artists are sometimes
quite difficult.

Oh, of course I wanna do it.

It would be an honor to take
such a talented person around.

Well, I'd buy a car if I could,
just to drive her around.

No. No, you don't
have to do that.

Well, anyway, I'll... I'll tell the
club that it's all set then, huh?

(Parks) mmm-hmm. Ok.

See you later. Bye.

(Parks) bye-bye, miss webb. Bye.

Well, john, there's a
problem solved. Thank you.

Oh, excuse me, could I speak
with you for just a minute?

Sure, son, come
on in. Thank you.

I wanted to tell you the news.
You know that famous lady writer

I'm always tellin' you
about, madeline bennett?

Well, she's comin' to
the university to speak.

You must be thrilled. You're
always talkin' about her poems.

Oh, it's wonderful. The only thing
is that all the plans went haywire,

And professor parks isn't gonna
be able to spend any time with her.

(John-boy) so he asked if I
would like to be her escort.

What does that mean?

It just means I'd pick her up at the
train station and drive her to classes

And then when she has some
free time, I'd show her the sights.

Sounds like an honor.

Oh, it is. It is.

The only thing I
wanted to ask is

If it would be ok for me
to stay at the dormitory.

It would just be easier for me.

You mean you
won't be here at all?

Well, just for thursday
and friday nights, that's all.

Don't forget about the
anniversary celebration.

Oh, she's leaving on the :
a.m. Train, saturday mornin',

So I'll just take her to the station
and then come on home, all right?

If it's ok with you.

I guess so.

Just get back in
plenty of time, son.

It's not every day a son gets a
chance to see his parents get married.

Oh, I wouldn't miss that
for anything in the world.

Maybe I could even
give the bride away.

[Laughing]

(John-boy) I'm gonna go pack.

And maybe I could even
give the bride a kiss.

[Train bell ringing]

Are you looking for me?

Yes.

How did you know?

I didn't, but I hoped.

I saw you and I thought,
"oh, please let it be that boy

"And not some
intense young woman

"Who thinks she wants to
be me when she grows up

And therefore treats me
like I was made of glass."

Besides, no one
else has a bouquet.

Oh, I'm john walton jr, of the
boatwright literary society

And... And it's a pleasure
to have you here with us.

Uh, the flowers are for you,
and they're from professor parks.

And he wanted to... To tell you

That he regrets that he cannot
be here himself to show you around,

But he has to do some business
for the president of the university

And so I was elected
to escort you, uh,

If you have some free time, and
take you to classes, if you don't mind.

It's fine with me.

Uh, do you have any luggage?

Yes.

Oh.

All right.

This way. Ok.

You had a pleasant
trip? I certainly did.

Good.

We'll get you to your hotel
right away and you can freshen up.

(Madeline) oh, I'd like that.

You know, I think that the... The
series of analogies is amazing.

You know, the one where you, uh,
where you compare it to the river,

I thought that was
particularly fascinating.

You know, in my mind,
it's... It's so perfect,

Because a river sort
of flows on and on,

But... But never really
flows away, you know?

That's interesting. I didn't
have that in mind when I wrote it.

Really? That's funny, because
in... In the piece just before that

I thought you were leading
up to that particular analogy.

Did you read the piece before?

Oh, I've read the whole cycle.

I think it's absolutely...
Oh, you have?

Of course.

Oh.

Oh, thank you, miss bennett.

I'll put these in
some water for you.

Thank you.

What time is the lecture?

Uh, the lecture, uh, : . : .

Then why did they ask me to
come in on the : a.m. Train?

Because the only other train
gets in at : in the evening.

I've been too long in new york.

You're not originally
from new york, are you?

Rockville, maine.

Population: , .

New englander.

Until I was .

I left during my birthday party.

It was then or never, I thought.

[Chuckles]

Well, you would have become a great
poet even if you'd never left new england.

That was inevitable.

I would have become a great
lobster fisherman if I'd never left.

What do we do until : ?

Uh, well, uh, my instructions are
to see that you are entertained.

What do you suggest?

Well, I could show you the town.

How long does that take?

About minutes, if I drive real
slow and we cover every inch of space.

And if it's all right with you,

I'd like to talk
about your work.

Oh, you've just found
the way to my heart.

And I know it's one
of the ways to yours.

(Madeline) are you
working on anything?

Me?

Uh...

Well, actually, uh, yes, I am.

Um, I just started a novel.

That sounds very
presumptuous, doesn't it?

It sounds like we're going
to have a lovely morning.

Uh, let's go someplace
where the view is spectacular.

Uh, well, all right, that
shouldn't be too hard to find.

We've got plenty of those.

Good. I long to see
cows on a hillside.

I've seen too many skyscrapers.

[Laughing] all right, we'll,
uh, find you some cows.

[Clearing throat]

Should be someone from
your side of the family, olivia,

To give you away.

Maybe one of my
brothers could come.

Now, just a minute, liv. We agreed,
only members of the immediate family.

It isn't really necessary,
seeing as how it's not

Actually the original marriage.

Good.

What else is there?

Well, I'd just like to go over the
actual ceremony with you both

So you'll know what to do.

I tell you, I'm lookin' forward
to that turkey dinner, too.

We all are, reverend.

I'll see you saturday
evening, then.

All right, thanks for
coming by. My pleasure.

(Grandma) oh, livie.

I put a new collar and
cuffs on your sunday dress.

It'll look just pretty
for the ceremony.

Thank you, grandma.

(Grandma) you know, I
thought you'd be pleased.

I am.

But let's face it, no matter
what you do to that thing,

(Olivia) it's still the same
old sick and tired dress.

(Grandma) well, if
you start right now,

You can make yourself a
brand new one for the ceremony.

Somehow I just don't
feel like making one myself.

Anyway, that dress
will do just fine.

You all right? No.

Heard you talkin' to
ma about the dress.

Doesn't sound like you, liv.

Why not?

Why shouldn't I want a brand
new, store-bought dress

Like other women have?

You can have one. Just go to
town and get anything you want.

I don't want a dress.

Liv.

Anyway, it's not the
dress. It's just that...

I get the feeling you don't
want this ceremony at all,

That you think it's silly, us
taking our vows over again.

Well, you know, liv, I
don't like ceremony.

I take our vows very seriously.

It's just that this is
between you and me.

And the children.

Well, not even them.

Marriage is a very private
thing, between you and me.

What a lovely
thing for you to say.

I think I'd like you to say
exactly that at our ceremony.

I just said it, liv.

You still want me say
it at the ceremony?

Yes, I do, and you are not gonna
back out on me, john walton.

(Madeline) I don't believe it.
Somebody checked it out.

Oh, no, no, it's here. It's
just wedged way in the back.

If it was in an easier position to
see, it'd be taken out more often.

Here it is. How did you
know where it was?

Uh, well, I checked
it out yesterday.

For the first time?
For the third time.

[Laughing]

Thank you.

summer days and other
stories by madeline bennett.

Oh.

(Madeline) oh, that
picture, yuck!

Oh, I like it. I think
it's beautiful.

You, uh, you can't
imagine how many

Students are looking
forward to hearing you.

I'm pleased about that, truly.

I like to talk to people
who care about words.

You know, if it wasn't
against my principles,

I'd take this and ask
you to sign it for me.

I promise you, when I get home I'll
send you a copy signed personally.

Would you, really?

Oh, thank you, that'd be very
special. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

[Sniffing]

I wanna tell you a secret.

After I published my first book,

I went to the branch library
near my home, mmm-hmm.

And looked it up in
the card catalogue.

And then, on the spur of
the moment, I took the card.

I have it home, framed.

Really? Mmm-hmm.

It's almost as important
to me as the book itself.

I'm glad you did that.

Why?

I don't know, I just,
uh... It was a good idea.

I bet you'd do something
like that, if the time was right.

Well, we've seen the
westham public library.

Mmm, I hate to tell you this, but we have
not only seen the westham public library,

We've seen westham.

Uh, un-unless...

Well, there's a...

There's a malt shop
down the street.

Uh, if you like, we could go
have some ice cream or something.

Lovely. Let's go.

Ok.

(Madeline) and if you are
people constrained by

What you think you ought to do,

And therefore choose to
ignore what you want to do,

Do not hope to become writers.

But if you do choose
to become writers,

Remember, remain curious.

Imagination dies when
one is no longer curious.

About new things,
or even about things

Which you think have already
been explored to the fullest.

There's a short poem
by edna st. Vincent millay,

Called the first fig.

I think it says best what
I've been trying to say to you

About experiencing all
that is available to you.

"My candle burns at both ends

"It will not last the night

"But ah, my foes,
and oh, my friends

It gives a lovely light!"

Thank you for inviting me here,

And thank you for
your kind attention.

Where are we going now?

Well, we could just take you
back to your hotel, if you like.

Do you have any
plans for the evening?

No, I don't.

Can you pull over right there?

Uh, sure.

Don't go anywhere.

I'll be back in a minute.

[Sighing]

May I have this?

I'm sorry I took so long.

Here.

Thank you.

What's that?

A picnic, if you like.

Oh. All right.

Good. Um, hop in.

This all right? Mmm-hmm.

Oh, let me help you
with some of that.

Take the blanket. Ok.

[Birds chirping]

[Madeline sighing]

It's beautiful here.
Makes me feel joyous.

Is this all right here with
the tree and the... Mmm-hmm.

[Clearing throat]

Ok.

Something for you.

This is such a good idea.

[Sighing]

Wine would have made it perfect.

Well, it is perfect.

"Your touch has
words that speak to me

"Its syllables are sweet"

I don't recognize
that. What is it?

I just made it up.

Finish it.

Oh, uh, uh, what... What was
the first part of it again?

"Your touch has
words that speak to me

"Its syllables are sweet"

"Your touch has
words that speak to me

"Its syllables are sweet"

Um...

"They say that here
beneath this tree

"It was meant for us to meet"

That's bad poetry.

[Clearing throat]

[Knocking on door]

What is it?

(Jim-bob) it's us.

Good lord! In the
middle of the night?

What do you want?
Somethin' wrong?

(Elizabeth) we got to
show you somethin'.

Can't it wait till breakfast?
(Mary ellen) no, it's important.

Oh, well, come on. Come on in.

(Grandma) now,
what's this all about?

It's a present. For
mama and daddy.

You'll love it.

It looks like our house.

It is our house. You have
to paint yourselves in. Shh.

That's the whole
front end off of it.

You... You want me to
paint myself in here?

Well, if you could. You
see, it takes a while to dry.

John-boy hasn't done it yet.

He said he would, though.

Lookie there, there's a radio.
That's where I'll paint myself in,

(Grandpa) sittin' right
alongside the radio

Where I always like to be.

(Grandma) well, now,
where will I put me?

In the kitchen. In the bedroom.

Yeah. At the ironing board.

Now, don't tell me where
to go. I... I know where.

I... I wanna be by the stove.

I spent half my life there, and
that's where I wanna be remembered.

You think mama and
daddy will like it?

Oh, I'm sure they will.
They'll just love it.

Well, might as
well get... It's good.

Where's the bathroom?
You forgot the bathroom.

Well, we couldn't fit it in.

[All laughing]

All right, come on,
let's get started.

[All chattering] I'm gonna show
you a real artist at work.

(Madeline) terribly
forbidding man.

Thick, bushy eyebrows, and
never known to smile in his life.

I was terrified of
him, but still I said:

"Mr. Wagner, if you don't want
the story the way I wrote it,

Then I'll give you back the advance,
and you don't have to publish it at all."

I love you.

I'm trying to tell you a story.

How do you love me?

I don't know. Tell your story.

Oh, mr. Wagner.

Well, thank goodness,
he published the story.

Because I'd already spent the
advance money ages ago on shoes.

Every time I sell something,
I buy myself a pair of shoes.

After I sold my first
book, I bought pairs.

What color?

Why? Why what?

Why what color?

Because I wanna know
everything about you. What color?

All colors. Even
pink, which I loathe.

Anyway, I bluffed
mr. Wagner, and luckily, I won.

You know, I really do
love you. Very much.

You really shouldn't, you know.

Don't say that.

All right, I won't.

[Clearing throat]

I put this on so
tight, I can't budge it.

Thank you. You can
do better than that.

Thank you, sir.

[Laughing]

[Moans] now that is better.

You know, I'm beginnin' to like
this idea of gettin' remarried.

John walton, you are shameless.

Isn't that why you
married me? Partly.

I gotta go to town, take
care of some business.

What kind of business?

Monkey business.

Well, don't let me keep you.

"Empty, weatherworn home."

It does exactly
what it should do,

Conjure up an image
of a deserted place.

Thank you, miss bennett.

One thing, though.

It really isn't a home, is it?

The way you describe
it. Empty, decaying.

It may have been a home
once, but it isn't anymore.

Well, I wanted to say "house."

(Sally) "empty,
weatherworn house."

But it didn't rhyme with "roam."

Well, it's empty because the
people who used to live in it roamed.

The essence of poetry is the
right word for the thought, always.

Sacrifice the rhyme
before you sacrifice the idea.

That's what professor
parks always says.

Of course he does.
I didn't make it up.

It's in the nature of
a rule about poetry.

And the rules have to be obeyed,

Or the work won't
be truly first-rate.

And yours has every
chance of being just that.

Mr. Walton.

Yes. Um...

Well, this is called the sailor.

Poem or story?

Uh, story.

(John-boy) um, the sailor.

"When people asked ned stratton
if he was glad to be home again,

"He always smiled broadly
and answered, 'you betcha.'

"Then the one who'd
questioned him would nod

"As if he'd gotten the answer
he expected and go away happy.

"But the minute ned was alone
again, he stopped grinning,

"For it wasn't true.

"With all his heart, he
longed to be back at sea.

"The sea was his home now.

"He was a stranger in this town
where he'd grown up, married,

And fathered children."

Yeah... No, i... I think...

That's not the kind of
dress she usually wears.

Is it the color?

No.

She's got blondish,
reddish hair, blue eyes.

Oh, she sounds lovely.

She is.

They're a little fancy.
I was hopin' for, uh,

Something, um...

[Clearing throat]

[Stammering] she's
kind of elegant.

Oh, what a nice thing to say.

Uh, may I ask what
the occasion is?

We're getting married.

You mean you're buying
your fiancee a wedding dress?

Oh, no, no, no. We've been
married for years. This is, uh...

We're retaking our vows.

Oh, my, that is lovely.

Just a minute. I think I might
have just what you're looking for.

Do we really have to
go to dinner tonight?

Couldn't we just call
professor parks and say:

"Sir, we really
appreciate the invitation,

But under the circumstances..."

Beneath that choirboy's face,

There lives a hot-blooded
young man, doesn't there?

That's my father.

Let's go in. Oh, no, we can't.

Don't be silly, come on.

Daddy, what a surprise! Um,
uh, what are you doing here?

Uh, this is madeline, uh,
ben-bennett. Miss bennett.

Uh, this is my father,
mr. Walton. John walton.

How do?

I'm pleased to meet you, mr. Walton.
John talks about you so much.

Does he? What are
you doing here?

Buying a dress for your
mama, for the ceremony. Oh.

One of these might be just
what you're looking for.

(Madeline) oh, they're lovely.

Does mama know about
this? No, it's a surprise.

(John) I kind of like
that green one.

So will she.

It's beautiful and elegant.

Well, that's the one.

I'll get it packed up
for you right away.

Your wife will be real pleased.

We really should run, uh, because we
have to be at professor parks' house

This evening for dinner
and all sorts of things.

I gotta be gettin' along, too.

If I were mrs. Walton,
I'd love the dress.

Bye. Bye, john.

Miss, uh, bennett.

Nice to meet you, mr. Walton.

I'm not making fun of it.

If I were married to someone for
years, I'd want a ceremony, too,

Certainly a celebration.

Well, I'll see that you get one.

Oh, you think we'll
last that long?

The smell of your hair
drives me absolutely crazy.

I'm serious. I'm lyrical.

You're crazy.

Well, I've got you in my blood
like a fever. You make me delirious.

You're impossible.

No, I'm serious.

I thought you were lyrical.

Come here.

You know,

I've never been in
love like this before.

Maybe I have, but
it wasn't like this.

When I'm away from you, it
just makes me ache inside.

When I whisper your
name, my brain goes crazy.

Do we really have to go
to that dinner tonight?

Yeah.

No. I don't know.

Yes, of course we do. Yes,
we do. We really have to go.

Race you to professor
parks'. Catch me if you can!

You don't even
know where he lives!

Come back here.

Yes, with as many as extra
students in the poetry class alone,

The number of
submissions was staggering.

Of course. Everybody's dying for
a chance to see themselves in print.

(Parks) yes. I've noticed that.

I've gotten as many as or
submissions from some students.

Like john walton, junior, for
instance? How did you guess?

So I always use to nag my
parents to get there early.

Then, when we got there, I'd
stand in the lobby and gape

As the people came
in all dressed up.

Oh, I love to do that, too.

(Mrs. Parks) now, of course,
we only get to the city

Days at a time, at the most.

So it's a mad rush. Theatres,
museums, and shopping.

But still, it's the only place
where fashion reigns, I always say.

"Where fashion reigns."

You'd think it was gonna
to be a royal wedding

The way everyone's
carryin' on downstairs.

Liv? I'm trying to
decide what to wear.

Whatever you do,
don't wear that thing.

It's easy for you to say.

Now turn around.
Come on, turn around.

Close your eyes. Close your...

Don't open 'em.

Liv, happy anniversary.

Oh, john.

[Exclaiming]

[Gasps]

It's beautiful. John, you
must have spent a fortune.

Don't you think it's
kind of... Kind of elegant?

[Exclaims]

[Laughing]

Happy anniversary, darling.

Let me get your present.

Which hand? This one.

Come on.

You recognize any
of it? It's beautiful.

I saved one sweater
from each of the children.

This blue here is
john-boy's sweater. Oh.

The yellow is mary ellen's.

And this yarn, I had to use strands,
that's elizabeth's baby sweater.

Oh, and that green one's
jason when he was little. Uh-huh.

And this is ben's. Liv,
it's just beautiful, honey.

Mmm.

John, please.

I don't understand you.

You tell me you like it here. You
tell me it's beautiful and restful.

I don't understand why you
wouldn't wanna leave that city

And come here where there's
no noise and no distractions.

You make it sound as if I live
in new york against my will.

I don't. I love it.

I love stopping work in the evening
and going out onto the street,

Meeting friends, talking,
having coffee with them.

Just walking in the evening.

The light is so beautiful as
you walk toward the river.

No, those are just excuses.

They're just distractions to
keep you away from your work.

Don't be rude. I'm a
very disciplined writer.

I'm at my desk at : every
morning, until : in the evening.

I don't court interruption.

I'm sorry.

Don't you see? I'm just saying
whatever comes into my head,

Tryin' to make you
change your mind,

Just change your mind,
so that you'll stay here.

[Sighing]

You know I don't wanna just
walk away from you, don't you?

If you didn't want
to, you wouldn't.

Oh.

John, I'm who I am. And that
person lives in new york.

And gets up when she pleases
and goes to bed when she pleases.

The things you found attractive
about me in the first place,

Are the things you
want me to ignore now.

I would die in a
small town like this.

It just isn't me.

I'll go to new york.

Of course you'll come there.

I'm not joking, I mean it.

I would like that very much.

I mean it.

I'll get into a school
there. I'll get a part-time job.

You'd like my place.

I have a fireplace
in my living room,

And in the winter, I make a pot of
tea and toast muffins in the fire.

Can't you wait just a few hours?

We'll take the night train out
of here together, all right?

I'll meet you there.

Please, please wait for me.

I've got to go home
for the ceremony,

And I'll be back in
just a few hours.

All right.

(Madeline) I'll meet
you at the station.

John-boy, I'm so worried.
You're the only one left.

What are you talkin'
about? The house painting,

The one we're gonna give
mama and daddy for a present.

Come on, you gotta
paint yourself in it. Oh.

All right, I'm coming. It takes
time to dry, we gotta wrap it.

All right. Come on.

Don't worry, honey.

[Knocking on door]

Are you finished yet?

Oh, no, not yet.

Well, you better hurry up.

I will.

Where are you gonna
paint yourself, anyway?

[Sighing]

Oh, I don't know. I...

I guess I'll just paint myself
in my room, sittin' at the desk.

(Mary ellen) well, you don't
seem to be there much anymore.

If you were really
gonna make it true to life,

You'd put yourself in your
car, going off somewhere.

Oh, of course you should
paint yourself at the desk, silly.

But do it fast and then
hide it under the bed,

Until I can come
back and get it. Ok?

(john-boy) dear daddy,

this is a very difficult
letter for me to write.

i don't really
know how to begin.

i suppose, after saying...

I think I'll set this
chair next to daddy's,

So mama can sit next
to him during supper.

Stop it there. All right, ma.

That's a good idea, erin. Reverend
fordwick can sit in mama's place.

John-boy, you look
handsome. So do you.

Good to have you
back, son. We missed you.

Thank you.

Miss bennett make
her train all right?

No, she's leavin'
on the evenin' train.

Fine-lookin' woman.

Yes, sir.

Everything all right, son?

[Sighs]

Mama. Oh, you look beautiful.

It's a pretty dress.

Mama, you're so gorgeous.
Mama, you look so pretty.

You like it? Let me
see your sweater.

Oh, yeah, remember
this? Now look at this.

When you were a little girl,
you remember this? Right here.

This hour is holy and happy,

Because these two
devoted hearts,

Are about to give themselves
once more in marriage.

For years, john and olivia,

Have shared their
lives and their love.

Now they solemnly
declare before god,

And this congregation
of their family,

That their love will bind them
for the rest of their future.

John. Olivia.

These rings are
circles with no end.

They have not and
will not tarnish,

For they are of
a precious metal,

Signifying your love,
precious and untarnishable.

John, do you continue

To keep olivia as your
lawful wedded wife?

Do you continue to
love her, to comfort her,

To keep her in
sickness and in health,

Forsaking all others, as
long as you both shall live?

I do.

Olivia, do you continue to keep
john as your lawful wedded husband?

Do you continue to
love him, to comfort him...

John and olivia,

I pronounce you, once
again, man and wife.

[Laughing]

Congratulations.

Can I kiss the bride?

(Jason) when do we
get to eat the cake?

When we got back to
our folks and told them,

They wouldn't talk
to her for a month.

Those cakes are something, too.

How is miss hunter?
She's very good.

[Laughing]

(Olivia) we should get
married more often.

[Laughing]

(Reverend fordwick)
when's the honeymoon?

[Crickets chirping]

(John) john-boy?

[Engine starting]

(Conductor) all aboard!

(Porter) your bag, sir?

[Train engine chugging]

(john-boy) madeline and
I were to correspond,

and we were to see
each other again.

in the meantime, I remained
on walton's mountain,

continuing that life
which prepared me finally,

for a place in the larger world.

(Mary ellen) mama, do you
remember the exact moment

You fell in love with daddy?
(Olivia) afraid not, mary ellen.

(John) I'm surprised
at you, liv.

(Olivia) john, I've got a
terrible confession to make.

(John) uh-huh.

(Olivia) I didn't marry you for
love. I married you for your money.

(John) olivia walton.
That was a joke.

Hmm.

You're getting to be
a regular fanny brice.

You want me to tell
you another one?

Liv, will you shut up so I
can kiss you good night?

Whatever you say.